Klamathon Fire Update: Containment now 30%

The Bureau of Land Management has closed BLM lands southeast of Ashland to help ensure safety for the public and firefighters.

Posted: Jul. 9, 2018 7:52 AM

Updated: Jul. 9, 2018 11:18 AM

Posted By: Mike Zacchino

CAL FIRE reports that another 250 acres burned since their last update, bringing the total to 35,250 acres. Containment increased to 30%.

During their briefing at 8 a.m., Gabe Lauderdale with CAL FIRE said there was increased relativity humidity overnight, which reduces the length of flames and allows firefighters to get closer and put in high-quality direct control lines around the fire, though they’re expecting wind shifts this afternoon, with increased temperatures and a decrease in relative humidity, possibly pushing the fire into Oregon.

Fire map, as of 11:00 a.m., Monday, July 9, 2018.

"We’re looking at it possibly pushing more in to the Oregon side so along with that we’re expecting to see an increase in temperatures and a decrease in relative humidity so what that’s going to do is increase the chance of the fire could spot and also will see an increase in that sort of unpredictable fire activity that we saw this fire grow under," Lauderdale said.

Lauderdale said that shifting winds could impact areas under evacuation, even if those areas seem safe now. "Anywhere that we have evacuations it’s really important that people heed those. Because even if they don’t see flames right in around their home, just keep in mind that with wind shifts that means the fire conditions can change very rapidly. So always looking at that and if any new evacuations need to be put in place those areas that are already evacuated there’s a reason why those evacuations are in place because we expect there’s a certain level of danger there," he said.

The Bureau of Land Management has closed BLM lands southeast of Ashland to help ensure safety for the public and firefighters (see map below).

The emergency area and road closures have been expanded to include all Medford District lands south of Highway 66 and west of Copco Road. This includes Emigrant Creek Road, Baldy Creek Road, Soda Mountain Road, Pilot Rock Road, Mill Creek Road, the Lone Pilot Trail, and the Pacific Crest Trail from Highway 66 west to the boundary of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument.

The closure will remain in effect until the Klamathon Fire is declared controlled, or until the Medford District Manager determines conditions are safe for public use.

Moderate fire behavior is expected for this morning and this afternoon. The Klamath River Country Estates continue to be threatened. The West and North flank will continue to have short range spotting in the timber stands when strong ridge top winds surface in the afternoons; this continues to threaten the communities of Hilt, Colestin and Jackson County, OR. The southern flank should hold North of the Klamath River and in the town of Hornbrook. Completed line on the east flank will mitigate the threat to Iron Gate Reservoir Estates. Fire activity will be isolated to the West and Northern flanks. These flanks are in timber and in upper elevations. The communities of Hilt and Colestin along with the Horseshoe Ranch Wildlife Area, Klamath Forest, Soda Mountain Wilderness and Cascade Siskiyou National Monument will be threatened.

CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS: Evacuation Orders: The communities of Hornbrook, Hilt, Colestin and Irongate Reservoir. Klamath River Community Estates: east of Black Mountain to Desavado Road, south of Copco Road and Ager Beswick Road. East Iron Gate Reservoir Estates: Areas south of Iron Gate Reservoir/Copco Road, north of Ager/Beswick Road, west of Desavato Road and east of Snackenbury Creek. Copco Lake Area: Areas east of Jenny/Fall Creek, south of the Oregon State Line, north of Copco Road and west of Topsey Grade.

Evacuation Warnings: Pheasant Valley area: East of Interstate 5, south of the summit of Black Mountain, west of Ager and north of Yreka Ager Road. Airport Road area: Southwest of York Road, west of Airport Road, north of Shelly Road and east of Ager Road. Bogus Creek area: South of Ager Beswick Road, east of York Road and west of Bogus Creek.

OREGON RESIDENTS: The following area in Jackson County will be placed at a Level 3 (red) “Go” evacuation notice: The area east of Interstate 5, covering Bureau of Land Management lands and private properties west of the Jackson-Klamath County line, north of the Oregon-California border, and south of a line that extends from the intersection of I-5 and the Mount Ashland Ski Road due east to the Jackson-Klamath County line.

The following areas in Jackson County will be placed at a Level 2 (yellow) “Be Set” evacuation notice: The area east of Interstate 5, covering Bureau of Land Management lands and private properties west of the Jackson-Klamath County line, north of the line that extends from the intersection of I-5 and the Mount Ashland Ski Road due east to the JacksonKlamath County line (the Level 3 evacuation line), north to Highway 66. As a reminder, the following areas in Jackson County are currently at a Level 3 (red) "Go" evacuation notice: The Colestin Valley including the Colestin Road and all its tributaries from the Oregon-California border to the Mount Ashland Ski Road. Old Highway 99 from the Oregon-California border to the Mount Ashland Ski Road. In addition, the following areas will remain at a Level 2 yellow) "Be Set" evacuation notice: The Mount Ashland Ski Road from Mount Ashland down to Old Highway 99. Old Highway 99 to just Callahan's Lodge.